Conductor-insulator clamp



16, 1943- w. c. SWEARINGEN 2,311,486

, GONDUQ'IIIOR-INSULATOR CLAMP Filed ne 20, 194i 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 zzlakn C'Sfleafzkgaz Feb. 16, 1943. w swEARlNGEN 2,311,486

CONDUCTOR- INSULATOR CLAMP Filed Dec. 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ar/e22,

z'ZZzawz Cdeara@bz Patented Feb. 16, 1943 CONDUCTOR-INSULATOR CLAIVIP William Clar Swearingen, Excelsior Springs, Mo., assignor to A. B. Chance Company, Centralia, Mo, a corporation of Missouri Application December 20, 1941, Serial No. 423,710

10 Claims.

The present invention relates to conductor-insulator clamps, and is particularly concerned with the provision of an improved form of securing device adapted to replace the tie wires customarily employed on high voltage transmission lines.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved securing device for securing transmission line conductors to their insulators in such manner that the conductors may be removed at any time without destruction of the securing device and so that the conductors may again be secured in their proper place on the insulator or removed as often as desired.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a clamping device for securing line conductors to insulators, which is adapted to be secured permanently to the standard types of insulators, but which is so arranged that the line may be disconnected from the insulator with a minimum amount of labor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved securing device for securing conductors to insulators, which is adapted to be actuated by means of a standard clai-mp stick or other appropriate tool carried by a long insulating pole so that it is not necessary to ole-energize the line when disconnecting one of its conductors from the insulator or effecting a connection to the insulator.

Another object of the invention is the provision of conductor-insulator clamps of the class described, which are adaptable to be used for securing the conductor to the side of an insulator or in the top groove of an insulator or standard construction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved conductor-insulator clamp of the class described, which is sturdy, simple, capable of effecting a secure connection, which is practically equivalent to that provided by tie Wires, and which may be manufactured at a low cost so that it may be able to compete on the market with the devices now employed.

Another object ofthe invention is the provision of an improved conductor-insulator clamp which has a resilient engagement with the insulator and conductor so that the conductor may be clamped or released with a minimum amount of twisting movement of the threaded members, thereby saving time in the securement or release of Wires from their insulators.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the two sheets of drawings accompanying this specification:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a conductorinsulator clamp constructed according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the same device of Fig. 1; V

Fig. 3 is a plan view on a smaller scale of the clamping members by means of which the device engages the insulator;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modification adapted to secure the conductor to either the side or the top of the insulator;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view similar to Fig. 3 of the clamping collar employed'in the device of Fig. 4, shown on a much smaller scale.

Referring to Fig. 1, l0 indicates a standard type of insulator for high voltage transmission lines, and N indicates one of the conductorinsulator clamps constructed according to the invention.

The insulators are customarily provided with a skirt l2 and a head 13, which has a transverse groove [4 in its top surface I5. The groove I4 is arranged to extend longitudinally of the line when it is to be used for supporting a conductor [6. When the conductor is secured to the side of the insulator, the direction of the groove l4 becomes of no importance.

The insulator i 0 is customarilyprovided with a peripherally extending groove ll, which extends about the insulator below the head' l3 and is adapted to receive the tie wire' that holds the conductor to the insulator. In some cases the conductor is secured in the peripheral groove IT.

The clamping device embodying my invention is preferably provided with means for securing it with relative permanency to the insulator I'D. When the transmission line is constructed, the insulator is permanently equipped with the fastening devices which hold the conductors to the insulators.

This securing means is preferably in the form of a pair of semi-circular collars l8, l9, each of which is provided with the parallel attaching flanges 2D, 21, 22, and 23.

The circular body portions 24 of these collar members extend'over somewhat less than half the circumference of the insulator groove I! so that there is a clearance space at 25 between the flanges 20, 2|, and 22', 23; permitting the tightening of the clamping collar members l8, IS on the insulator.

the insulator, or the bars may be rectangular in cross section, with rounded corners.

The bars are preferably wider than they are thick, for the purpose of providing a body adapted to have the bolt apertures 26 formed therein, and still leaving sufiicient of the body to give it adequate strength.

The bars of which the clamping members |8, |3 are formed may then be curved to form the cylindrical portions 24, and bent at substantially right angles at 21 to cause the attaching flanges to 23 to extend in the proper direction, as shown in Fig. 3.

The bolt holes 28 in the attaching flanges 20 to 23 may be punched or drilled, and they are preferably located in alignment with each other in the flanges 23, 2| and 22, 23. Through bolts .28 are preferably provided for passing through the apertures 23 and securing the flanges 20, 2|

.and 22, 23 together, the bolts being provided with the bolt 28 are located at the ends of the flanges 20, 2| so as to keep the pivot of the arm 3| spaced from the insulator. The'other bolt 32 (Fig. 3) has its apertures located close to the curved portions 24 of the collars, leaving the flanges 22, 23

projecting outward beyond the bolt, for a purpose further to be described.

The clamping collars |8, |9 may be secured to the insulator by locating the curved portions 24 of these collar members in the groove I1, and then assembling the collar members with the bolts 28, 32 and tightening the nuts on the bolts.

The conductor-engaging arm 3| is also preferably formed of rods or bars of metal of uniform cross section; and, if desired, the rod may be provided with an enlargement at its right end in Fig. 1, which has an aperture for receiving the bolt 28. In other embodiments the rod of which the arm 3| is made may be made of uniform cross section throughout.

In other embodiments of the invention the end of the rod 3| may form an eye about the bolt 28 for pivotal mounting of the arm 3| on the collar members l8, l9.

7 The conductor-engaging arm 3| may in some embodiments of the'invention be curved so as to extend up and over the top of the insulator and down into the flanges 22, 23 on the other side.

In the embodiment illustrated it has a straight portion 33 extending diagonally upward, another horizontal straight portion 34 extending across the top of the insulator, and another diagonally and downwardly extending straight portion 35 extending downward between the flanges 22, 23.

The arm 3| is provided on its lower side, directly opposite the groove l4 in the insulator, with a metal conductor-engaging shoe 36. This shoe may consist of a small block of metal welded or riveted or otherwise secured to the lower side of the arm 3|.

It is preferably provided with a V groove on its lower side for the purpose of engaging conduotors Id of different size. The apex 33 of the groove 37 is preferably located Vertically above the axis of the Wire or centrally of the insulator groove M.

The arm 3| may have its portion 35 provided with a reduced cylindrical end portion 39 which is threaded to receive the threaded nut 45). The nut 40 may consist of a cast metal member having an enlarged portion at 4| provided with a threaded bore 42.

The enlarged portion 4| is integrally secured at each side to a ring 43, which is preferably circular in cross section, forming an eye 44 of a size whichis of substantially the same size as the eye of a hot wire clamp.

As this eye need not be drawn into the socket of the hot wire clamp, it may be made of larger size so as to provide a clearance of the hook or jaws of the clamp stick, even though the threaded end 39 of the arm 3| extends into the eye 44.

In some embodiments of the invention the arm 3| may be made of round stock throughout. The nut 43 is preferably provided on the side toward the flanges 22, 23 with a flat or plane surface 45 for engaging these flanges. The flanges 22, 23 are preferably equally spaced from each other, but they are preferably bent diagonally upward at 46 to provide a straight edge portion 41 for extending substantially parallel to the surface 45 on the nut and engaging this surface when the clamp is secured as shown in Fig. 1.

The amount of engagement between the fiat surface 41 on the flanges 22, 23 and the rear side 45 of the nut will depend somewhat on the size of the particular conductor l6 used.

At the point 43 the flanges 22, 23 are preferably curved upward to provide them with an edge portion 49 in the form of a camming surface which is engaged by the nut 40, as, the arm 3| slides down between the flanges 22, 23.

The existence of this camming surface serves to effect a tightening of the clamp on the wire It by merely pulling down on the eye 44 with the clamp stick when the nut 40 is in almost the proper position.

The arm 3|, being resilient, it may give sufficiently to spring the nut 40 away from the flanges 22, 23 sufficiently to release the device without much turning of the nut 40.

When the nut 40 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the pull on the nut exerted by the arm 3| is at substantially right angles to the plane surface 45 on the nut, and any pivotal movement of the arm 3| results in the moving of the nut in an arc, which is of greater radius than the effective radius of the arm extending to the corner 50.

In other words, the engaging edges 41 extend at such an angle that the nut 40 must be retracted slightly to pass the corner 50, and this may be done partly by a pull and partly by unscrewing the nut 40.

The shoulder or corner at 53 or the flat edges 41 engaging the fiat surface 45 of nut 40 serve, in a way, like a latch for retaining the arm 3| in closed position against any possibility of accidental release. Nevertheless, the construction permits the adjustment of the tension on the arm 3| and other parts of the device at all times by merely giving the nut a twist with the clamp stick.

Referring to Fig. 4, this is a modification in which the device is adapted to be used for securing conductors to the side of an insulator or the top. In this case the construction of the collar members I8 and l9 and arm 3| and nut 40, at the left of Fig. 4, is substantially the same as that previously described.

Instead, however, of the collar members |8, |9 having circular portions for extending about the insulator, these collar members diverge from the circular at the point where they are caused to extend downward on the skirt l2 sufficiently to clear a conductor 52 located in the insulator groove Thus the collar members 53 of this device have the partially circular portions 54 and the diagonally and downwardly extending portions 55, which are also curved over the skirt l2, but are not of simple circular shape.

The collar members 53 are so shaped that the attaching flanges 2| again extend parallel to each other to receive the bolt 28. In this case the arm 3| is of substantially the same shape, but is provided with a slightly longer diagonal portion 33.

This portion has secured to it a metal shoe 56 in the same way as described with respect to the shoe 36. The shoe 56 may have a V groove 51 of a shallower nature, in order that the lower side of the groove may clear the conductor 52 when the arm 3| is pivoted upward.

The operation of both embodiments is substantially the same. When a conductor is clamped in the groove H by the embodiment of Fig. 4, the shoe 5% presses the conductor 52 laterally into the groove H and a powerful pressure is exerted on the wire by means of the arm 3|.

In the same way the shoe 36 may be used to press and secure a conductor H5 in the upper groove 14, as shown in Fig. l, or the device of Fig. 4 may be used for the same purpose, shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of the device is as follows: Such conductor-insulator clamps are preferably secured on the insulators when the line is constructed, or, if it is a job of reconstruction, at a time when the conductor I6 is held away from the insulator by suitable operating poles.

The insulator then being spaced from any energized wire, the clamping collar members |3, |9 may be clamped securely to the insulator by means of the bolts 26, 32. This effects a relatively permanent securement of the device to the insulator in question.

The conductor It may then be secured in its groove by pulling the arm 3| down until it extends between the flanges 22, 23 and its nut engages the edge surfaces 41.

The nut may be tightened to efiect a firm securement of the conductor and to increase the resilient pressure of the arm on the conductor.

The flat surfaces 45 and 4! on the nut and collar flanges then serve to retain the arm 3| in its closed position, and any desired amount of tension may be applied by tightening the nut 40.

When it is desired to release the conductor from the insulator, the conductor itself is preferably first grasped by means of a clamp stick or some other pole for handling a hot line, and thereafter a clamp stick may be engaged with the eye 44 to rotate the eye until the pressure of the arm 3| on the conductor I6 is slightly released.

When this has been done, the eye 44 may be pushed upward by means of the clamp stick and a full release of the conductor effected, after the arm 3| has been moved to the dotted line position of Fig. l.

The arm 3| may be permitted to drop and rest on the insulator while it is not being used, or the arm may be swung over to the right in Fig. 1 to rest upon the skirt l2.

When the conductor is again to be secured in place, it is first located in the groove H or H, as the case may be, and then the arm 3| is moved over until the conductor is engaged by the shoe 38 or 55.

The nut 40 will then be in pos tion to engage the camming surface 49 when the arm 3| extends between the flanges 22, 23 and the nut may be pulled down by means of the eye 44 until it is located with its rear surface 45 engaging the fiat edge portions 41.

Then thenut may be tightened, if necessary or desirable, to place the desired amount of tension on the arm 3| and the desired amount of pressure on the conductor l6.

By means of the present arrangement the conductor may be released as often as desired, and much time and labor saved, because the time consumed in handling the wires has been completely eliminated.

The present device is adapted to secure the conductor to the insulator with a firm yet resilient pressure in such manner that it may be removed at any time with a minimum amount of expenditure of time and labor.

Since the devices may be constructed of stock bars and rods, it may be manufactured at a low cost and at a price which may compete with tie wires when the cost of wasted and destroyed wires is also considered.

The average number of times a tie wire is removed from an insulator during its life should be considered in connection with the cost of the tie wire in arriving at the actual cost of employing such tie wires as compared with the present devices.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a conductor-insulator clamp, the combination of a metal collar comprising a pair of similar parts curved to fit in the peripheral groove of an insulator and having laterally projecting flanges at each end, threaded means for securing the adjacent flanges together to clamp the collar on the insulator, and a resilient metal arm pivotally mounted on one of said threaded means and extending upward over and downward with respect to the top of the insulator, said arm having its end threaded and provided with a threaded member having an eye formed therein for engagement with a clamp stick, the adjacent laterally projecting flanges extending at substantially right angles to the threaded portion of said arm and having an upwardly curved camming portion for engaging the threaded member.

2. In a conductor-insulator clamp, the combination of a metal collar compr sing a pair of similar parts curved to fit in the peripheral groove of an insulator and having laterally pro ward with respect to the top of the insulator,

said arm having its end threaded and provided with a threadedmember having an eye formed therein for engagement with a clamp stick, the adjacent laterally projecting flanges extending at substantially right angles to the threaded portion of said arm and having an upwardly curved camming portion for engaging the threaded member, and a metal shoe carried by said arm in position to engage a line conductor located in the peripheral groove of said insulator.

3. In a conductor-insulator clamp, the combination of a metal collar comprising a pair of similar parts curved to fit in the peripheral groove of an insulator and having laterally projecting flanges at each end, threaded means for securing the adjacent flanges together to clamp the collar on the insulator, and a resilient metal arm pivotally mounted on one of said threaded means and extending upward over and downward with respect to the top of the insulator, said arm having its end threaded and provided with a threaded member having an eye formed therein for engagement with a clamp stick, the adjacent laterally projecting flanges extending at; substantially right angles to the threaded portion of said arm and having an upwardly curved camming portion for engaging the threaded member, and a metal shoe carried by said arm in position to engage a line conductor located in the peripheral groove of said insulator, and a second metal shoe carried by said arm and located to engage a conductor in the groove in the top of an insulator.

4. In a device for securing conductors to line insulators, the combination of securing means for embracing a tie wire groove of an insulator, with a resilient clamping member movably mounted on said first-mentioned means and adapted to engage a conductor to secure it to the insulator at a predetermined point, and latching means for securing said movable member in conductor-clamping position, said latching means including a threaded member adapted to be adjusted to determine the pressure placed on said conductor, and said latching means including an actuating member having an eye adapted to be engaged by a standard high voltage tool.

5. In a conductor-insulator clamp, the combination of a metal collar comprising a pair of similar parts curved to fit in the peripheral groove of an insulator and having laterally projecting flanges at each end, threaded means for securing the adjacent flanges together to clamp the collar on the insulator, and a resilient metal arm pivotally mounted on one of said threaded means and extending upward over and downward with respect to the top of the insulator, said arm having its end threaded and provided with a threaded member having an eye formed therein for engagement with a clamp stick, the adjacent laterally projecting flanges extending at substantially right angles to the threaded portion of said arm and having an upwardly curved camming portion for engaging the threaded member, and a metal shoe carried by said arm in position toengage a line conductor locatedin the peripheral groove of said insulator, said collar having downwardly extending portions inithe curved part thereof to prevent interference between the conductor and the collar when the conductor is located in the peripheral groove.

6. In a device for securing conductors'to line insulators, the combination of securing means for embracing a tie wire groove of an insulator, with a resilient clamping member movably mounted on said first-mentioned means and adapted to engage a conductor to secure it to the insulator at a predetermined point, and latching means for securing said movable member in conductor-clamping position, said latching means including an actuating member having an eye adapted to be engaged by a standard high voltage tool, and camming means for engagement with a part of said latching means for directing the latching means and placing a predetermined tension on said resilient means when the latching means is closed.

"7. In a device for securing conductors to line insulators, the combination of securing means for embracing a tie wire groove of an insulator, with a resilient clamping member movably mounted on said first-mentioned means and adapted to engage a conductor to secure it to the insulator at a predetermined point, and latching means for securing said movable member in conductor-clamping position, said latching means including an actuating member having an eye adapted to be engaged by a standard high voltage tool, and camming means for engagement with a part of said latching means for directing the latching means and placing a predetermined tension on said resilient means when the latching means is closed, said clamping member having a grooved metallic shoe for confining the conductor against lateral movement out of said groove in said insulator. V

8. In a conductor-insulator clamp, the combination ,of an insulator-embracing clamping collar adapted to be permanently secured to a line insulator, with a resilient arm carried by said collar and having one end pivotally mounted thereon, the other end of said arm engaging a retaining surface carried by said collar, and said arm. having intermediate its ends means for engaging 'a conductor and clamping it man insulator groove, said arm having a threaded member engaging said retaining surface on said c01- lar, and said threaded member having an eye adapted to be engaged and actuated by a high voltage line tool.

9. In a conductor-insulator clamp, the combination of an insulator-embracing clamping collar adapted to be permanently secured to a line insulator, with a resilient arm carried by said 001- lar and having one end pivotally mounted thereon, the other end of said arm engaging a retaining surface carried by said collar, and said arm having intermediate its ends means for engaging a conductor and clamping it in an insulator groove, said arm having a threaded member engaging said retaining surface on said collar, said retaining surface being formed on an upwardly turned portion of said clamping collar, and said collar having beyond said retaining surface a camming surface adapted to place a predetermined tension on said resilient means when it is forced past said camming surface to said retaining surface.-

10. In'a conductor-insulator clamping membar, the combination of a collar member adapted to be permanently secured in the peripheral groove of a line insulator, with a metal arm pivotally mounted on said collar and extending over the top of said insulator to the opposite portion of said collar, and said arm having means for engaging an outwardly projecting retaining flange carried by said collar when the arm engages a conductor in an insulator groove, said arm having threaded means carried by its end for engaging said collar, whereby the tension of said arm against said conductor may be controlled, and said threaded means being provided with an eye adapted to be engaged by a high voltage line tool.

WILLIAM CLAR SWEARINGEN. 

